''Swiftia rosea'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of gorgonian-type

octocoral Octocorallia (also known as Alcyonaria) is a class of Anthozoa comprising around 3,000 species of water-based organisms formed of colonial polyps with 8-fold symmetry. It includes the blue coral, soft corals, sea pens, and gorgonians (sea fans ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Plexauridae Plexauridae is a family of marine colonial octocorals in the phylum Cnidaria. Members of this family are found in shallow tropical and subtropical seas. Many species contain symbiotic photosynthetic protists called zooxanthellae. Characteristi ...

Description

Colonies of this sea fan are usually high. There is usually a single main stem with a few branches at an angle to the main stem but in a single plane. The polyps are in two rows on the thicker branches but near the tips they are closer together and more disordered. The colour of this sea fan is dark red. The polyps are colourless and cannot be retracted back into the branches. This sea fan resembles the closely related but rather less common ''

Swiftia pallida ''Swiftia pallida'' is a species of gorgonian-type octocoral in the family Plexauridae sometimes known as the northern sea fan. At one time it was considered to be a subspecies of '' Swiftia rosea''. Description ''Swiftia pallida'' usually has a ...

'', but is more densely branched.

Distribution and habitat

''Swiftia rosea'' is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean including Scandinavia, Great Britain and Ireland. This sea fan also occurs in deep water on the continental shelf off the Atlantic coast of North America. It is typically found in cold waters within the depth range in localities with good water flow. In suitable habitats, populations can be quite dense.

References

Animals described in 1887 Plexauridae {{octocorallia-stub